Smoke to continue to affect Southern Tasmania

The Parks and Wildlife Service has advised that smoke from a large bushfire in the South-west National Park is likely to continue to affect southern Tasmania communities including the Huon Valley and Hobart.

Parks and Wildlife Service incident controller for the Giblin River fire, Chris Arthur, said the fire that started from lightning on 3 January is burning through buttongrass moorlands in the southwest and presents no threat to communities.

“This fire, estimated to have burnt about 30,000 hectares, is affecting a large area between Lake Pedder and Port Davey. In the interests of public safety all tracks in the Western and Eastern Arthur Ranges are closed,” Mr Arthur said. Closed tracks include: the Port Davey Track, Old Port Davey Track, Junction Creek Track, Arthur Plains Track, Cracroft Valley Track, Blakes Opening - Huon Track and the Old River traverse. The Huon and Edgar campgrounds are also closed. The closures may be in place for an extended period of time.

Walkers in the southwest are today being relocated from tracks by helicopter to a nearby safer place at the Scotts Peak airstrip. Access is still available to Melaleuca, however visitors are advised not to travel north of Melaleuca.

Other parks affected by bushfires include:

Douglas Apsley National Park which remains closed until further notice due to the Bicheno bushfire

Freycinet National Park is also closed until further notice due to the Bicheno bushfire. The Freycinet National Park closure includes all walking tracks and access roads within the Freycinet National Park, including the Friendly Beaches. Road access to The Fisheries is available for Fisheries residents only. Access remains available to the Freycinet Lodge for guests.

Mount Field National Park remains closed until further notice due to a large bushfire at Lake Repulse. This closure will remain in effect until there is a safe boundary established in this area.